‘Bulgaria’s soccer chief must resign’
RACISM: BRITISH MPS CALL FOR TOUGH ACTION
Team subjected to abuse, including monkey noises and apparent Nazi salutes.
London
British lawmakers yesterday called for tough action from the Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) after England players were subjected to repeated racist chanting during a Euro 2020 qualifier, as Bulgaria’s prime minister urged the country’s football chief to resign.
England recorded a 6-0 victory over their hosts in Sofia on Monday but the game was overshadowed by offensive chanting from the stands, forcing the match to be halted twice in the first half.
Sports Minister Nigel Adams said the England team had been subjected to “disgusting abuse”, which included monkey noises and apparent Nazi salutes.
Amid the fallout from the game, Bulgaria’s prime minister urged the country’s football union president Borislav Mihaylov to quit.
Borisov said the government would sever all ties, including financial, with the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) over what he called “a shameful loss” and the overall poor standing of Bulgarian football until Mihaylov resigned.
He tweeted his condemnation of the behaviour of some of the fans, saying it was “unacceptable” that Bulgaria, which he described as “one of the most tolerant countries in the world”, should be associated with racism.
After some English players suffered racist abuse in a qualifier away to Montenegro in March, England manager Gareth Southgate had prepared his side to follow European football governing body Uefa’s three-step protocol for reporting racist incidents that can lead to matches being abandoned.
Southgate said after Monday’s win his side had made “two statements” by winning the game and raising awareness of the situation.
Bulgaria coach Krasimir Balakov said he did not hear anything as he was focusing on the match.
“If this is indeed proven, we must apologise and be ashamed,” he said.
Antiracism group Kick It Out said the match should have been abandoned by officials after TV footage showed that racist abuse continued in the second half.
“There can be no more pitiful fines or short stadium bans,” it said. “If Uefa care at all about tackling discrimination ... then points deductions and tournament expulsion must follow.”
England now need just a point from their final two qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo next month to seal their place at next year’s Euros. – AFP
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